On 1 February 2021, the military overthrew the Myanmar government, re-establishing a military dictatorship similar to one that ruled the country for 50 years in the second half of the 20th century.
Pastor Myint and his family have lived through upheaval and death threats. Still in very real danger from ongoing conflict, they are determined to serve God and their vulnerable community.
BEFORE THE WAR
Before the military coup in 2021, Pastor Myint* lived with his wife, May*, and children in relative peace. Their region in central Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist but they invested in their community for years, working hard to befriend them and help when and where they could.
It worked.
Their neighbours accepted and respected them. Myint bought land on the community’s outskirts and moved his family into their newly built home. It grew into a haven of Christian fellowship that soon attracted intense opposition.
“I became an eyesore to a religious leader and his followers,” he says.
And yet, under the protection of the community’s democratically elected head, they were kept safe.
And then the coup happened.
DRIVEN OUT BY DEATH THREATS
Just as the government suffered a brutal change in leadership, ward administrators, and the heads of local villages, townships, and cities were replaced by soldiers and supporters of the military.
The head of Pastor Myint’s village was also removed and with him the protection Myint’s family had relied on. To make things worse, religious leaders in the community incited hatred toward Myint’s family with the government’s blessing.
“After the coup began, Christians in our village became very vulnerable.” Pastor Myint says, his eyes glistening with tears as he remembers what comes next. “One of the religious leaders instigated the richest man in our village against me. They gathered some young men and offered them alcohol, instructing them to kill me and my sons. Thankfully, some villagers notified me of their plan. The next moment, I took my sons and hurried out of the village.”
Unable to follow, his wife and daughter remained in their home, terrified.
“Young drunk men barged into my house looking for me and my sons,” Myint says. “My wife and daughter were home. Though the men did not hurt them, they were very scared. After barging into my house, [the men] waited for us. When we did not return, they killed two Burmese villagers who had shown interest in the Christian faith.”
Pastor Myint and his sons never returned to their village. They made a new home and were soon joined by his wife and daughter.
“One of our church elders assisted in bringing my wife and daughter to the new location,” he says. “However, because of the incident my wife has developed anxiety. When the attackers learned that all of us had fled the village, they looted our house, taking all our possessions. Then they burned down our house.”
BRINGING GOD TO THE BROKEN
Pastor Myint has settled his family in a slightly safer area. But like many other displaced believers in Myanmar, he has no source of income. When Open Doors’ local partners learned of his family, they provided them with groceries. It’s a kindness that still overwhelms May.
“After we were displaced, no one else has even bothered to ask us about our welfare,” she says tearfully. “We are so thankful to you for listening to our story and helping us.”
Pastor Myint and May continue to serve God, loving those around them that are fragile and broken. “I still worry about the spiritual wellbeing of the believers who are displaced because of the conflict and oppression,” he confesses.
May adds, “We have been in the ministry for many years, and we have seen many people come to Christ. Because of the war and persecution, many believers are displaced, and we have lost connection with them. Please pray that God will be with them and that they will remain faithful to Jesus.”
*Name changed for security purposes
